Holiday Inn Express Woodbridge by IHG

We had been left stranded after a delayed flight and missed connection at EWR, and Hampton Inn & Suites wouldn’t honor our reservation when we arrived around midnight. No nearby hotels had rooms. When we called this Holiday Inn Express & Suites in Woodbridge, a friendly gentleman assured us we’d have a room when we got there after 1 a.m., and he kept his word. He found us the best available room at a very good price, brought two bottles of water after helping the next guest, and later returned the backpack we’d left in the lobby without noticing. After feeling abandoned by the airline and hotels that wouldn’t even help us find another location, it meant a lot to be looked after. The room was clean, had everything we needed, and the bed was very comfortable. It was quiet apart from some muted street noise. The staff were the best we’ve ever experienced. If we stay in Newark again, we’d choose this hotel without hesitation.

We felt targeted because we are Black and unsafe throughout our stay. In our experience, if you aren’t Hispanic, expect to be mistreated and racially profiled. A housekeeper whose name sounded like "Ida" followed my husband through the halls and into the parking lot. We considered it harassment and discrimination, and spoke with another Black family staying there who said she was doing the same thing to them. Whether it was racial animosity or an inappropriate fixation, her behavior felt obsessive and unacceptable. On several occasions, she opened our room door despite the Do not disturb signs, which added to our feeling of being stalked and harassed. The night staff also made the place feel unsettling. One employee spent his whole shift staring intensely at the security monitors and guests, in a way that felt more like "Norman Bates" than a professional security presence. We will never return, and strongly urge management to investigate both housekeeping and the night shift. The owner’s reply says they spoke to us, but nobody addressed any of these issues with us directly. That’s a complete lie and very unprofessional. If you’re the manager, you should be fired for that lack of experience. Maybe you spoke with the other family or someone else and confused us, but you did not speak to us personally. If you had, we wouldn’t be writing this. This makes it seem like there are more problems like this. Everyone should stay away from this so-called hotel.

The beds were comfortable, and the typical rooms have a refrigerator, microwave, closet, two drawers for storage, and a security box for personal items. Food is basic but has good options for the whole family. I appreciate having turkey sausage instead of only pork, and the pancake machine makes two pancakes at the push of a button. If you love coffee, theirs is the best I’ve had in a long time. Starbucks and other high-end shops don’t compare. There’s also a gym, whirlpool, and swimming pool. The location is probably the least appealing part. Our first night was very loud, though there were a lot of families there for the holiday weekend, so that was understandable. Getting to rooms on floors two through four can take a while because there are four floors and only one elevator, which staff use too. The stairs don’t go down into the lobby; they lead outside, so you’ll get wet getting back in if it’s raining. Parking is bad, and one side of the hotel has no lighting, so it doesn’t feel safe.

I chose this Holiday Inn in Woodbridge because the pool stays open later. I visit the area often and normally stay at the Delta Hotel, Residence Inn, or APA Woodbridge, where there are lots of kid-friendly places nearby. This has been one of my worst hotel stays, and the problems started at check-in. The TV keeps glitching and the picture is unclear. The toilet has clogged repeatedly, and maintenance has come to my room four times. During the last problem I asked Tiffany for help; she said she needed to speak with the General Manager, but I never got a call back and have had to use the downstairs restroom. The microwave was unstable and tilted. This morning my daughter tried to use it, and the food burst out, burning her arms and stomach. That’s extremely concerning and unacceptable. Jackie was the only person who was pleasant and helpful. The rest of the stay has been stressful, anxiety-inducing, and unsafe. No General Manager has followed up, even though reviews already mention management not responding. Guest safety and comfort clearly aren’t priorities here. I won’t stay again, and I expect follow-up about the microwave incident involving my daughter.